He told AFP Mr Trelawny was in hospital under police guard being treated for a fractured arm until the formalities of his release were complete.

Mr Trelawny was arrested on Thursday in Bulawayo at a music festival.

He was not in Zimbabwe in his BBC capacity.

No reason was given for the state prosecutors dropping the charges, but Mr Trelawny was "effectively a free man", Mr Nzarayapenga said, Reuters reports

"But he is still in hospital under police guard while awaiting finalisation of a few formalities such as getting his clothes back and his passport from immigration," Mr Nzarayapenga told AFP news agency.

"I feel this was a minor understanding which could have been handled differently," Mr Nzarayapenga added.

Mr Trelawny - who presents Music Matters, Breakfast and Live in Concert on BBC Radio 3 - had fallen and injured his arm while in police custody, according to his lawyer.

He had been acting as a compere at the Bulawayo Music Festival, organised by the Zimbabwe Academy of Music, earlier this month.

Zimbabwe's media laws require journalists to be accredited by a state-appointed commission.